Countries agree to zone of control

While further progress on the lifting of the restrictions on exports from three states in Brazil is awaited, Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay have agreed to international control of a 15km zone of intensive Foot and Mouth Disease surveillance along their common borders

The decision is being seen as paving the way for the eradication of the disease in the sub region. Exports from Brazil to the EU have been restricted since October 2005 due to the outbreaks of Foot and Mouth disease there — a restriction which has benefited the trade for beef within the EU over the past year, resulting in higher prices with the absence of some of the low cost beef from the market place.

Identification of each animal, control of all movements of animals and animal products and vaccination of all susceptible animals will be applied to rid the area of the disease — the 15km strip remaining the only part of Argentina’s territory not cleared as FMD free with vaccination.

A number of Brazilian states where vaccination is practiced have also been cleared as FMD free zones. Restrictions continue to apply in three states in Brazil — Parana, Sao Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul.

Although the volume of imports to the EU effected by the restriction last year represented no more than about 3% of supply, the contribution to higher returns for Irish producers during the second half of last year was significant.

Meanwhile, the EU has offered to end all tariffs and import quotas on all agricultural products from the African Caribbean and Pacific group of countries. The offer would come into effect on January 1, 2008 and would apply to each of the 77 country group for virtually all agricultural products — the exceptions being rice and sugar.

The offer is part of the ongoing negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements which are meant to replace preferential access for ACP members under the Cotonou agreement.